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Bevm72 Asked March 2020

How do I encourage my friend to follow Dr advice without sounding like a drill sergeant?

He doesn't like to put his leg up for swelling relief.

97yroldmom Mar 2020
Hi BevM

At 96 you are probably not going to convince him to keep his legs up.
However in an effort to help let me brain storm with you because it really does help to elevate swollen feet and legs.
Can you put your feet up along with him? Does he have a way to be comfortable with his legs up? Could you both take some time during the day to go back to bed and keep your legs up? (I keep thinking he probably wants to be with you)
I had trouble with my mom for this same behavior. She would not go back to bed during the day. She did have a lift chair and would keep her feet up to a degree but not as high as she needed.
Also watch his diet. He needs to be on a no salt or sodium diet I’m thinking. If you have scales handy, weigh him every morning after he pees and watch how when his weight is up his swelling will be worse. Salt holds onto fluid. Fluid makes the feet swell.
Activity can help so if the two of you can walk about the house for several minutes several times a day that will help the valves in the legs work to get the fluid off.
Also too much water or liquid in the diet can contribute. Ask his doctor how much fluid is allowed.
Not knowing your partners health problems I am just mentioning things that are issues with CHF. Congestive Heart Failure.
Try not to stress. He has lived a nice long life. Allow him his freedom without stressing him but all of these things matter.
I am glad he has you to help.

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